Protesters who chant ‘globalise the intifada’ will now be arrested following a rise in antisemetism, the heads of the Greater Manchester and Metropolitan police forces have announced.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the ‘context has changed’ in the wake of the terror attack at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney and the rampage at the Heaton Park Synagogue earlier this year.
The officers said those who make placards or chant at protests in a ‘targeted way’ to increase fear among members of the Jewish community stand to be arrested.
In a statement, the pair said: ‘We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ and those using it at future protest or in a targeted way should expect the Met and GMP to take action.
‘Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.’
They said frontline officers with both forces will be briefed on the new approach.
Officers will also use powers under the Public Order Act, including conditions around London synagogues during services.
The pair said visible patrols and protective security measures around synagogues, schools, and community venues have been stepped up in London and Greater Manchester.
Detectives are intensifying investigations into hate crime, while Counter Terrorism Policing continues to operate 24/7 to identify and disrupt threats, they said.
The statement added: ‘These measures are practical and immediate – designed to keep communities safe, deter intimidation, and enforce the law.
‘Our intent is clear: create a hostile environment for offenders and a safer environment for Jewish communities, while protecting lawful protest.
‘All members of society have a responsibility to consider their impact on others – it is possible to protest in support of Palestinian people without intimidating Jewish communities or breaking the law.’
The pair said police have consistently been advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that many of the phrases causing fear in Jewish communities ‘don’t meet prosecution thresholds’, and added: ‘Now, in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive.’
Sir Stephen added: ‘Jewish children are the only children in our country who, day to day, go to school behind large fences, guarded by people with (high visibility) jackets, and where there are routine police patrols in and around those areas.
‘Our Jewish communities put up with a way of life, in our country, today, that nobody else has to put up with.
‘I do think there is something very significant in that … and we all, I think, need to question ourselves afresh, as the dynamic continues to change, as to whether what we are doing comntinues to be adequate.’
Prosecutors said they will consider each case on its own merits rather than automatically pressing ahead with charges.
The UK’s chief rabbi has welcomed the decision, calling it ‘an important step towards challenging the hateful rhetoric’ seen on Britain’s streets.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis had this week called for a crackdown on hate speech, saying it had to be made clear that chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ are ‘unlawful’.
Sir Ephraim, who is on his way to Australia to meet the bereaved and survivors, said: ‘This announcement is a most welcome development, and an important step towards challenging the hateful rhetoric we have seen on our streets, which has inspired acts of violence and terror.’
The phrase ‘globalise the intifada’ was the only one identified specifically by the police chiefs in their statement.
‘Intifada’ means ‘to shake off’ and is often seen and heard on pro-Palestinian marches. It is considered anti-Zionist and deeply offensive by the Jewish community, who believe it calls for aggressive resistance against Israel.
Indeed chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis previously said it had to be made clear slogans such as these were ‘unlawful’.
But its meaning is contested, with pro-Palestinian protesters claim it is a call to ‘shake off’ colonialism and for a peaceful resistance to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and actions in Gaza.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism group, said ‘police chiefs may finally be waking up’ to the threats against the Jewish community following the October 7 massacre in 2023.
He said: ‘After two years of repeatedly excusing genocidal rhetoric and failing to grasp how their inaction was fuelling extremism in this country and ignoring the Islamist threat to our civilisation, they have finally realised that words and chants have consequences.
‘The line between the hate marches and the antisemitic murders has become impossible to ignore, even by police chiefs who have had their heads in the sand. The prospect of arrests for this one chant at marches is a start, but we would have expected it over two years ago.
‘It remains to be seen if it can even be enforced at this point, after police have allowed extremism to run amok for so long undeterred.
‘If police chiefs think that this is a bone to throw to a Jewish community in mourning, they are mistaken.
‘Their legacy is record levels of antisemitism. There is a great deal of catching up to do if we are going to restore law and order in this country. We pray that more Jews don’t need to die on their watch before they do.’
The Community Security Trust (CST), which provides protection for Jews in Britain, welcomed the ‘more robust response to violent language on protests’.
A spokesman said: ‘For many years, CST has called for tougher action against hateful and violent chants and placards at protests and this announcement comes not a moment too soon.
‘In particular, given the wave of terrorism against Jews around the world, it is intolerable that a call for a global ‘intifada’ should be allowed on our streets.’
The charity said it will continue working closely with the police ‘to ensure that Jewish life in this country remains protected’.
